High speed capping machine



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w M+ Wm United States Patent O 3,143,835 HIGH SPEED CAPPING MACHINE Robert K. McElroy and Ray M. Smith, Elmhurst, Iii., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 96,934 4t) Claims. (Cl. 53-53) This invention relates to packaging and is more particularly concerned with improvements in machines for applying and sealing closure caps onto jars or like containers which are capable of being operated at a high rate of speed.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an 1mproved closure cap applying and sealing machine of the general type disclosed in Patent No. 2,876,605, in which, a le or procession of containers, e.g., glass jars, is passed rapidly through the machine and each jar receives a closure cap, during its passage, which becomes sealed to the mouth of the jar before it leaves the machine. The prior machine is constructed so as to be adapted for interchangeable use in the application of pressed-on closure caps of the class disclosed in White Patent No. 2,339,827 or rotatable closure caps, such as, lug caps of the type disclosed in Hammer Patent No. 1,805,623, and the present machine is likewise adaptable for such interchangeable use although only the form thereof which is adapted to be employed in the application of the rotatable type caps is illustrated and described herewith.

The rotatable caps to which reference has been made comprise a skirt or ange having either lugs or screw threads which interfit and cooperate with mating locking lugs or threads on the jar or other container. The rapid application of these rotatable caps requires that they first have to be applied to the jars so as to bring them into an 9 initial sealing position regardless of the relative positions of the lugs or screw threads on the cap and those on the container when they are rst brought together. If the caps are not applied properly in the first place they will not be properly sealed in the machine and furthermore breakage of containers or faulty seals may result.

The application of the rotatable caps is further cornplicated by the nature of the gaskets which are now being used in such caps. Many of these caps are now made with so-called iiowed-in gaskets which are formed of plastisol compositions. When gaskets formed of certain plastisol formulations are warmed or heated sufficiently, as they will be by steam used in the sealing machines, they become suiciently deformable so that the finish on the rim of the jars will indent the owed-in gaskets and thereby form their own sealing surfaces. The rotatable action wherein the lugs or threads cooperate with mating elements on the container to help pull down the closure caps to a nal position serve to assist in the intersealing action between the container and the gasket and to lock the caps in iinally sealed position against accidental dislodgement. In order to obtain this intersealing action and properly lock the closure caps in their final and fully seated sealing position on the jars, a considerable degree of rotating action must be applied to the caps and also a substantial downward thrust.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is the provision of a cap feeding and leveling mechanism for rapidly feeding and applying rotatable closure caps to a rapidly moving le of jars or like containers so that a cap is presented in timed relation to the movement of each successive jar, applied in a level position to the mouth of the jar, and turned to the proper preliminary sealing position irrespective of the initial relative positions which the threads or lugs of the cap may bear to the interlocking lugs or threads of the jar, and thereafter the caps are rotated down to the final and fully seated and sealed position ICC on the jars by being subjected simultaneously to a substantial downward thrust as well as a rotating action.

In the machine of the prior patent each successive lled container is passed through an atmosphere of steam as it proceeds through the machine which displaces the air remaining at the mouth of the container so that when the cap is sealed in place and the container is cooled, the steam in the head space condenses and a vacuum is created which serves to further perfect and maintain the final seal of the cap onto the container. The present machine is constructed to accomplish this type of so-called vapor vacuum sealing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for applying rotatable closure caps to jars or like containers wherein the movement of the successive caps into position on the jars is controlled relative to the movement of the jars through the machine, with the delivery of the caps being timed so that a cap is presented in proper position for downward rotation onto the mouth of each successive jar as the jars move in uninterrupted, continuous procession, through a cap applying and sealing mechanism.

A further object is to provide a high speed capping machine for association with a jar filling machine which comprises a continuously traveling jar supporting and ad vancing conveyor, a continuously traveling jar gripping mechanism, a mechanism for advancing successive caps from a supply chute and a common power shaft for operating the lilling machine, the jar conveyor, the jar gripping mechanism and the cap advancing mechanism with the power shaft having a driving connection with each of the operating mechanisms which is adjustable while the machine is operating so as to enable the mechanisms to be timed relative to each other to bring each successive jar and a cap therefor into proper alignment for the cap to be turned down onto the jar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a high speed capping machine which is readily adjustable for operation with different size caps and wherein the mechanism which is provided for applying the caps to the jars and bringing them into initial sealing position is in the form of a removable and replaceable unit, with separate interchangeable units being provided for each size cap.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the capping machine which is shown by Way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevation with portions thereof broken away or removed, of a machine for applying rotatable closure caps to jars or like containers and for sealing the same thereon, which incorporates the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE lA is a side elevation with portions broken away of the entrance or receiving end of the container or jar supporting conveyor;

FIGURE 1B is a side elevation of the discharge end of the iar supporting conveyor;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation to a larger scale. of the bottom portion of the machine as shown in FIGURE l with the top section thereof removed and with portions broken away or omitted;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bottom portion of the machine as shown in FIGURE 2 with portions thereof omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 4 with portions broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 3, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 8 is a plan View" of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 7, with portions broken away;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of one of the jar gripper chain assemblies and associated mechanism with portions broken away or omitted;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 9, the view being taken on the longitudinal center line of the machine, as indicated by the line 10-10 in FIGURE 9, with the jar supporting conveyor and its supporting structure omitted;

FIGURE l1 is a cross section taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE l2 is a cross section taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, of the cap feeding, applying and sealing head which constitutes the upper portion of the machine;

FIGURE 14 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13 with portions thereof omitted;

FIGURE l is a transverse section taken on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the cap leveling and applying unit as it appears when removed from thesealing head;

FIGURE 17 is a plan view of the cap leveling and applying unit with portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 18 is a longitudinal, side elevation taken on the line 18-18 of FIGURE 17, with parts in section;

' FIGURE 19 is a horizontal section taken on the line 19-19 of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a horizontal section taken on the line 20-20 of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is an end elevation of the unit shown in FIGURE 16, the View being taken on the line indicated at 2121 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 22 is a cross section taken on the line 22-22 of FIGURE 1.6;

FIGURE 23 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken on the line 23-23 of FIGURE 13, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 24 is a cross section takenon the line 24-24 of FIGURE 14, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 25 is a horizontal section taken on the line 25-25 of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 26 is a cross section taken on the line 26-26 of FIGURE 13, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 27 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 27-27 of FIGURE 26;

FIGURE 28 is a cross section taken on the line 28-28 .of FIGURE 27; A

FIGURE 29 is a plan view of the steam distributor apparatus as it appears removed from the sealing head;

FIGURE V3() is a side elevation of the steam distributor apparatus;

FIGURE 31 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 31-31 of FIGURE 29, to an enlarged scale and with portions omitted or broken awa FIGURE 32 is -a vertical cross section taken on the line 32-32 of FIGURE 29 to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away; Y

FIGURE 33 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the sealing head at the entrance end thereof;

FIGURE 34 is a fragmentary, longitudinal elevation of the portion of the sealing head which is shown in FIG- URE 33;

j FIGURE 35 is a schematic View illustrating the power drive for the machine; Y

FIGURE 36 is a fragmentary plan view, partially schematic, at the entrance end of the machine illustrating the positioning of the jars for engagement by the gripper mechanism;

FIGURE 37 is a fragmentary view illustrating the re- 4 lationship between the cap feed chute and the rotating cap feeding disc; and

FIGURES 38, 39 and 40 are fragmentary sectional views, partially schematic, illustrating the applying and leveling of the cap on the mouth of a jar.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URES l, 1A and 1B, the machine illustrated comprises a jar supporting and carrying conveyor 10 which has intermediate portions of its upper and lower runs supported on a superstructure 11 mounted on the table forming top 12 of a generally rectangular base 13, the latter also carrying in vertically adjustable relation above the jar supporting top run of the conveyor 10 a cap feeding, leveling and sealing head 15 in which mechanism is mounted for placing caps on successive open top jars R as they advance continuously through the machine. Y

The cap applying machine is designed for association with a jar filling machine (not shown) of standard construction with a common power drive mechanism for operating the lling machine and the present machine, and having mechanism, as hereinafter described, for synchronizing the operation of the two machines. The lling machine is arranged adjacent the entrance end of the capping machine and is of a type which will deliver filled jars in upright position to the continuously traveling conveyor 10 of the present machine at the end thereof which is shown in FIGURE 1A.

The jar supporting or carrying conveyor 10 comprises y an endless articulated conveyor belt or chain 16 (FIG- URES 1A and 1B) which is mounted for operation in a vertical plane. The chain 16 is carried at its opposite ends on sprockets 17 and 18 which are mounted on cross shafts 20 and 21, which cross shafts are mounted in suitable bearings in housings 22 and 23. The conveyor end housings 22 and 23 are carried at the upper ends of vertical posts 24 and 25 which are mounted for vertical adjustment in upright floor supported stands ,26 and 27. The stands 26 and 27 are spaced at opposite ends of the machine and the conveyor 10 is of suicient length so that the intermediate or center portions of the upper and lower runs of the chain 16 are supported on the base 12 and the frame structure 11 while one end portion (FIGURE 1A) extends to the filling machine for receiving the jars and delivering them to the capping mechanism and the other end portion extends at the other end of the machine for discharging the capped jars therefrom.

At the jar receiving end of the conveyor 10 (FIG- URE lA), the top run of the chain 16 is supported on a platform formed on the table forming top 28 of a framework 29 which extends longitudinally and is supported at one end on the frame structure 11 and at the other end on the conveyor housing 22. The lower or return run of the conveyor 16 is carried on a supporting table structure 30 suspended by vertically disposed hanger brackets 31 from the upper framework 29. A pair of laterally spaced side guide rails 32 are adjustably mounted above the table 2S on vertically disposed supporting brackets 33 attached to the frame 29.

At the discharge end (FIGURE 1B) of the machine, the upper run of the chain 16 is supported in like manner on the table forming top 34 of a longitudinally extending framework 35 carried at one end on the main frame structure 11 and at the other end on the conveyor housing23 while the lower or return run of the chain 16 is supported on a table structure 36 suspended from the frame 35 by hangers 37. Laterally spaced guide rails 38 are adjustably mounted at this end of the conveyor above the frame structure 3 5 by means of the vertically disposed brackets 39 attached to the frame 35. The sprocket 18 at the discharge end of the conveyor is driven from the main drive of the machine ina manner which will be hereinafter described. The shaft 20 for the sprocket 17 which Vconstitutes the idler sprocket for the chain 16 is mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the machine by the mechanism indicated 

28. IN A MACHINE FOR RAPIDLY FEEDING AND APPLYING ROTATABLE CLOSURE CAPS TO A RAPIDLY MOVINGF FILE OF UPRIGHT CONTAINERS, THE CAPS AND CONTAINERS HAVING TELESCOPING PORTIONS WITH COOPERATING THREAD-LIKE MEMBERS WHICH INTERLOCK UPON ROTATION OF THE CAP ON THE MOUTH OF THE CONTAINER AND FORCE THE CAP DOWN ONTO THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR FEEDING EACH SUCCESSIVE CAP INTO A POSITION WHERE IT ENCOMPASSES THE TOP OF A CONTAINER, MEANS FOR LEVELING THE CAPS AS THEY ARE MOVED BY SAID FEEDING MEANS INTO SAID CONTAINER TOP ENCOMPASSING POSITION SO THAT EACH CAP IS SUBSTANTIALLY LEVEL THEREBY TO PERMIT MOVEMENT DOWNWARDLY ON THE MOUTH OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE CAPS ON THE CONTAINERS IN LEVELED POSITION FOR FURTHER ADVANCE WITH THE CONTAINERS, MEANS FOR PRELIMINARILY TURNING EACH CAP TO PROPER SEALING POSITION IRRESPECTIVE OF THE INITIAL RELATIVE POSITION OF THE THREAD-LIKE MEMBERS ON A CAP AND ITS ASSOCIATED CONTAINER, SEALING MEANS FOR THEREAFTER ROATING THE CAPS DOWNWARDLY TO FULLY SEATED AND SEALED POSITION ON THE CONTAINERS AND A COCKED CAP SENSING MEMBER IN THE PATH OF THE CONTAINERS BETWEEN THE CAP APPLYING AND LEVELING MEANS AND SAID SEALING MEANS, WHICH SENSING MEMBER IS CONNECTED TO A CONTROL SWITCH FOR ACTUATING A MECHANISM TO REMOVE FROM THE MACHINE A CONTAINER ON WHICH THE CAP IS COCKED. 